Jessie Ware: Devotion – 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Vinyl 2LP

Hard to believe a decade has flown by since the release of Jessie Ware’s debut album. When this came out, we couldn’t get enough of her silky, soulful voice over that ultra-modern sounding post-dubstep production (everyone called it “bass music”). Up until then she was mostly known for being the enigmatic vocalist on SBTRKT’s album (no, not that one) and with this record, she really broke out on her own. Original Lab review:

Restraint. That’s what I think makes this album so great. On the hit singles, “Wildest Moment” and “Running”, you expect Jessie Ware (yeah, the same vocalist on SBTRKT’s album) to have a Dawson’s Creek moment where she’s yelping and flexing her chops in the last quarter of the song. That moment never comes and I’m thankful. Stays in the cut (ed.note: after repeated listens, there is indeed some DC moments). I recently absorbed the entire album on a road trip and by the end, I had a Soul II Soul taste in my mouth not so much “Back II Life” but more “Keep On Movin” with its wandering, breaky sound. Masterful modern production by Dave Okumu, Julio Bashmore, and Kid Harpoon (a distant cousin to Malay‘s work on Channel Orange).

• 10th anniversary edition expanded w/ rare bonus tracks including ‘Valentine’ (ft. Sampha) + remixes by Disclosure, Joe Goddard, Ewan Pearson + more
• housed in gatefold jacket w/ printed inner sleeves
• original release year: 2012
• music label: Island 2022

reviewed by the mgmnt 05/2013